2025 Program Guide | Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music

CABRILLO MUSIC.ORG 51 We arrive at the final movement:  Lotus Sea . Everyone is here—everyone has come out. And we all remember—and see that there is still foolishness in the world towards our community. In writing this, I came to an internal realization: queerness is eternal. It always has been, and it always will be. Whereas yes there is much we have to fight for now, “I’m not fighting to prove” we exist—“I’m fighting to remind.” There’s sanctuary in our eternity—and calmness there. We can fight, but also… I look forward to the day that we can just sit on a bench by the sea and be. There was a time that seeing older gay men was rare. Very few were left on stage. But we’ve regained strength. And now our trans siblings are under violent attack. And the political climate of 2025… Age and location has nothing to do with it—“what’s the excuse”? Regardless, and despite many flowerless fists, we’ll grow. Hyacinth: the flower born out of Apollo’s tears for his dead gay lover Hyacinthus.  Marigold: a joyful flower and beloved offering to Xochipilli, the Aztec god for flowers, games, music, and gay men.  Sunflower: happiness, warmth, loyalty, vitality, and good fortune.  Lotus: Purity, rebirth, and strength. No matter the mud, we’ll grow.  —Darian Donovan Thomas